On March 31, 2026, students from Foster High School and Todd Beamer High School participated in an IGNITE Field Trip at Amazon Prime Air. This immersive experience brought students on-site to explore drone technology through a guided tour, hands-on exposure to different departments, and a panel discussion with professionals working in drone production and operations. The event was supported by Amazon Prime Air Volunteers, including Greeters Amelia Mahan and Trinh Mao, Tour Guides Olivia Garza, Jim Ogletree, and Carla Guzzardo, and Panelists Ammy Gulchuck and Alex Zea, with coordination support from Educator Garen Freed.
Students spent the day touring the facility and meeting professionals across teams, getting a close-up look at how drones are designed, built, and operated. A highlight of the visit was seeing how many different roles contribute to getting a drone from concept to flight, which helped students understand that there isn’t just one path into this field. During the panel, students asked thoughtful questions about how drones deliver packages, how they navigate to the right locations, and what career paths led each panelist to their role. Panelists shared practical advice, encouraging students to find mentors in every role they take on, talk with teachers and counselors about their interests, and keep exploring new learning opportunities along the way. The small group setting made it easy for students to engage, ask questions, and picture themselves working in similar environments, turning a complex technology into something they could better understand – and maybe even see themselves being part of one day.
“All these careers, people, and an amazing building helped me see more pathways and more doors. I took away so much from this event. I loved it!”
12th Grade IGNITE Student
“I am more interested in STEM. I learned about so many careers and different things. I learned about the drones. I liked the flying part. And understanding how it works.”
10th Grade IGNITE Student
“It made me feel less intimidated about STEM. It let me know how broad and interesting the field can be.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Meeting people who know so much about their profession and are deeply interested in it makes me want to pursue something that inspires the same in me.”
11th Grade IGNITE Student
STUDENTS SURVEYED FOLLOWING PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT REPORTED...
100%
INTERESTED IN STEM
83%
KNOW MORE ABOUT STEM CAREERS & THE BENEFITS OF WORKING IN STEM
83%
FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
IN PURSUING STEM
92%
GAINED PERSPECTIVE & FEEL MORE HOPEFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE
Additional Student Feedback:
“The favorite things I learned today were how the drone was made and what people do on a realistic day-to-day routine.” – 12th Grade IGNITE Student
“My favorite was learning about the drone wings and how the curvature affects the noise. I also like seeing the drone fly.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“This has inspired me to follow what I love that can be involved in my future. My favorite thing that I learned is that on each floor, there are different parts/steps to making the drones.” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Me inspiro a querer aprender mas sobre las cosas. Me inspiro ver como los drones pueden cambiar el futuro. (It inspires me to want to learn more about things. It inspires me to see how drones can change the future.)” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“My cosa favorita fue ver como los drones se fabrican y como volaban. Aprendi como un drone estaba por dentro. (My favorite thing was seeing how drones are manufactured and how they fly. I learned what a drone looks like on the inside.)” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
“Personally, I liked seeing the test run (when they had the drone fly) but what we saw and heard during our visit to the first floor interested me more. The people who talked were really interesting to listen to as well. :)” – 11th Grade IGNITE Student
Thank you to our IGNITE Volunteers and Educators:
- Amelia Mahan
- Trinh Mao
- Olivia Garza
- Jim Ogletree
- Carla Guzzardo
- Ammy Gulchuck
- Alex Zea
- Allison Zech
- Katerina Mikhaylyuta
- Garen Freed
About IGNITE Worldwide:
IGNITE Worldwide is a 501(c)3 nonprofit STEM education organization that aims to change gender and racial equity in STEM permanently and systematically. We work directly with teachers during the school day to provide programming that promotes gender equity and representation in STEM academics and careers. Through our award-winning program, IGNITE provides engaging, hands-on events that connect students with STEM professionals from industry leaders from around the world. Learn more at igniteworldwide.org.